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Pope appoints former Sault bishop

Pope Francis has chosen a former Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie auxiliary bishop to serve on the Pontifical Academy of Life.

Noel Simard, bishop of the Diocese of Valleyfield in Quebec, was appointed by the Holy Father on June 13.

He is one of 50 persons from 27 countries selected, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops says.

Simard has a doctorate in moral theology from Pontifical Georgian University. He has also taught ethics at University of Sudbury and Saint Paul University. Simard is a CCCB spokesperson on ethical questions. He served as chair of Catholic Organization for Life and Family from 2011 to 2014.

Saint John Paul II founded Pontifical Academy of Life in 1994. The academy's goal is “the defence and promotion of the value of human life and the dignity of the person.”

Simard served with the Sault diocese from 2008 to 2011. The diocese's vicar general, Simard was responsible for the French pastoral region of Nipissing, Sudbury, Algoma and the English pastoral region of Sudbury.